The first rock concert I ever attended was Meat Loaf at the Capitol Theater
in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1978. Three decades later, the Bat Out Of
Hell: The Original Tour DVD documents the same Meat Loaf tour I saw
(but it’s a Rockpalast show in Germany) — a gift from the heavens
as I pine (as always) for my youth.
Way back in the late 70s, the Meat man was 300 pounds plus and touring with
a band that included his creative foil Jim Steinman and the impish, yet big-voiced
Karla DeVito. This was a show high on drama. Steinman has remarked on many occasions
that Meat Loaf was the very best special effect anyone would ever need. The
whole shebang was backed by an eight-piece band playing a blistering set of
what has now become one of the biggest selling albums of all time.
The show starts with Steinman taking the stage and literally hammering his
elbow into a grand piano. The band follows with a long intro of the Bat
Out Of Hell title track, and then Loaf enters, clutching a red silk
scarf and dressed in a tux. I recall being so blown away by a similar opening
I saw that I’m not sure if I’ve been as startled by the entrance of any
performer since.
The audio is not great here, but the band “revs” (that’s really
the only word for it) through a tight 40-minute set. Steinman menaces DeVito
through the opening of “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer
Night).” There’s another long instrumental passage before “All Revved
Up With No Place To Go” finds the big man stalking, sweating…and sweating
some more. He’s not in top voice at this June 1978 show, as he remarks in the
bonus interview on the DVD. They are well into the tour at this stage, so his
voice was probably a bit strained and tried at this juncture. Meat Loaf at 85%
is still far and away more than what you’d get from many other performers at
100%.
The visual highlight is Loaf and DeVito acting out “Paradise By The Dashboard
Light.” Not only is DeVito’s voice spot-on through out this show,
she’s a real trooper for making out with such a big, sweaty guy. After another
instrumental passage, the band is introduced, opening the door for each to take
extended solos (even the bass). The performance ends with a wallop on the only
ballad of the night, “Two Out Of There Ain’t Bad,” followed by a reprise
of “All Revved Up With No Place To Go.”
Is this a perfect show? Not by any means. The Rockpalast broadcast is weak
in many places. And Meat Loaf has seen stronger vocal moments. There are also
times when the band is racing, even through the faster numbers. Nevertheless,
this is pure unadulterated American rock from way back in the day before auto-tuning
and sampling. Once, a long time ago, Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman had the world
by the short hairs and Bat Out Of Hell: The Original Tour reminds
us of that time. For me, it was a very important show in my rock and roll upbringing.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
